Album Review

Russ Barenberg is one of those guitarists whom no one but other guitarists has heard of, but whose name is held in reverence by all guitarists. Of course, he's also a very fine mandolinist. And an even better composer. It would be enough to make you sick, if his music didn't have such a sweet, nice-guy flavor to it. It's not only impressive technically, it's also impressive as an expression of personality. When at Last is his first solo album in nearly 20 years, and it consists entirely (except for one traditional French folk melody) of original compositions. He's joined by an impressive array of A-list artists with whom he's racked up IOUs over the years: fiddler Stuart Duncan, dobro player Jerry Douglas, bassist Viktor Krauss and others. And while you might expect a bluegrassy sound given the instrumentation, he'll surprise you: "Fat Mountain" owes more to polka-hall stomp than it does to high lonesome mountain soul, and "The Pleasant Beggar" is a very traditional-sounding Irish-style reel. Then there's that French folk tune, a sweetly melancholy number that will break your heart in that special way that only French and Québecois melodies can. Here's hoping we don't have to wait twenty years for the next album.

Customer Reviews

Fine Music

by
SeattleSteve

This is wonderful music from a very talented guitar player. It's been too long since we've had a new release from Russ. Buy it; you won't be sorry.

Good stuff

by
Tunehound

Not only is this guy good on the guitar, there's some nice Texas style fiddle, mandolin, accordian, dobro, all mixed together very nicely. Definitely a buy.

Fantastic

by
Docsoff

This is about as good as it gets! A great album of Folk-Contemporary Bluegrass instrumentals. I loved Barenberg's first album (Moving Pictures) and after almost 10 years he has come out with another, just as good. There isn't a piece on this album that I don't enjoy. A real musical treat!

Biography

Born: October 8, 1950

Genre: Singer/Songwriter

Years Active: '70s, '80s, '90s

Russ Barenberg is one of the most melodic instrumentalists in contemporary bluegrass. Best known for his Clarence White-style flatpicking, Barenberg often uses his other three fingers to enhance rhythm and melody and create a more textural sensitivity. A former member of Country Cooking, Heartlands, Fiddle Fever, and Laughing Hands, Barenberg has remained active since moving to Nashville in 1986. Inspired by Doc Watson and Mississippi John Hurt, Barenberg began playing guitar at the age of 13....